This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = cmd_00159(GDF v2.1.1, ? attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Rainbow Chard |
| Scientific name | Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris |
| Family / Genus | Amaranthaceae / — |
| Produce category | Leafy Green |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4909 |
| PLU — organic | 94909 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_1472 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 15.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bright Lights | 45% | A popular F1 hybrid mix known for its vibrant array of stem colors including red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. Excellent flavor and ornamental appeal. Often sold as ‘Rainbow Chard’ or a key compon |
| Ruby Red | 20% | Distinctive deep red stems and veins with dark green, slightly savoyed leaves. Good heat tolerance and rich, earthy flavor. A classic red chard often included in rainbow mixes. |
| Golden Sunrise | 15% | Bright golden-yellow stems and veins with medium green leaves. Mild flavor, less earthy than red varieties. Adds a striking yellow color to mixes. |
| Fordhook Giant | 8% | A robust, traditional green-stemmed chard with large, dark green, heavily savoyed leaves. Known for its productivity and classic chard flavor. Provides bulk and a green component to rainbow mixes. |
| Oriole | 6% | Vibrant orange stems and veins with dark green leaves. Offers a unique orange hue to chard mixes. Good vigor and flavor. |
| Silverado | 4% | White stems and dark green leaves. Known for its vigorous growth and tender leaves. A common white-stemmed variety often used in mixes. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Freezing point: 31.1°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.05 uL/kg/hr typical (0.01–0.1) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Store away from high ethylene producers.
Mixed-load compatibility
Ethylene-sensitive, low ethylene producers. Avoid strong odor producers.
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? Yes
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Increasing, driven by health-conscious consumers and culinary versatility.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.8 |
| Income elasticity | 0.5 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.2 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Chard | 40% |
| Red Chard | 30% |
| Green Chard | 30% |
Pack sizes
- 12 ct bunched case
- 24 ct bunched case
- 1 lb retail bunch
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.